Hinged fuel tank cap



June l2, 1951 J. v. CARD HINGED FUEL TANK CAP Filed May 16 ATTCI RN EYB '|iii`.

mes T7. Gard Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT '()FFICEY I A :2,556,647M* 7 HINGED FUEL TANK CAP James V. Card, La Grange, Tex.

Application May 16, 1947, Serial No. 748,588

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to a hinged fuel tank cap.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for attaching a fuel cap to the neck portion of the tank to prevent the cap from being lost as it is removed from the neck portion, and is such that the method of removing the cap is not changed and upon its removal will be retained in a position where it will be out of the way and will not interfere with the pump nozzle used to ll the tank.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a hinge for fuel tank caps which lies fully within the neck portion of the tank when the cap is in place and hence will not detract from the symmetrical lines of the car.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a fuel tank cap hinge which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference majr be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the neck portion of a tank with the cap extended therefrom and supported to one side of the neck portion and out of the way,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the tank neck and the cap after the cap has been secured to the neck and before it has been turned to a locking position,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the cap with a portion broken away to show its connection with the neck of the tank,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view looking into the top of the tank neck portion,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the engaging projection of the cap.

Referring now to the figures, I5 represents a fuel tank having a neck portion I6 with a top flange I1 having diametrically opposed notches I8 and I9 therein. These notches are adapted to be engaged by ends of a U-shaped hinge element 2l having a portion 22 enclosed by a. sleeve 23 formed from a portion of a plate 24 secured to the interior of a fuel tank cap 25. This plate also has locking projections 26 adapted to respectively enter notches I8 and I9 in flange I1 of the neck portion I6. As the cap is extended over the neck portion, the ends of the hinge element 2| will be extended downwardly into the neck portion and free of the notches thereby to permit the cap to be turned into a locking position with the projections 26 seated below and upon the lower edge of a depending portion 28 of the ange I6. Formed along this edge 28 is a stop 29 with which the projections 26 will abut to limit the turning movement of the cap. When these projections have met with the stop, the cap is in its fully locked position.

As the cap is turned to release the same from the neck portion, the hinge element is positioned so that as the cap is lifted from the neck portion the legs of the same will be sprung into the notches I8 and I9. The ends of the leg portions of the hinge 2I have loops 3| which have sufficient diameter to prevent the removal of the hinge from the notches but will permit the hinge element to be pivoted downwardly and to one side to support the cap 25 offset from the neck portion I6. The hinge element 2l will lie across the top of the flange.

It Will be apparent that to again connect the cap to the neck portion. the cap is lifted up and the hinge element is dropped into the neck portion. l I

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a closure structure for a fuel tank having a neck portion formed on the tank and provided with a radially inwardly extending flange with a downwardly depending portion thereon and with notches extending through the flange portion at diametrically opposite locations thereon, the improvement comprising a\ cap portion, adapted to fit over the neck portion and having projections adapted to enter the notches of the flange, said projections adapted to pass beneath the lower edge of the depending portion of the ange to make locking engagement therewith, said depending portion having step formation with which the locking projection of the cap may engage when the cap is in its full locked position, a spring wire hinge element of U-shape having a closed end portion pivotally connected to the interior of the cap, and the closed end portion of said element being laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the element whereby the cap not only will lie free of the tank neck portion but will be rearwardly oset therefrom, leg portions having offset looped ends adapted to extend through notches of the flanges and be locked therewith when the cap has been raised from the neck portion to the full extent of the hinge element and being fully removed from the neck opening when the cap is free of the tank neck portion "and uthe "cap is 'fsupported'ginjxa location laterally displaced from' the tank neck po'ition and extending in a horizontal plane below the plane of the top of the tank neck portion.

JAMES V. C'ARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 377,275 Ringen Jan. 31 1888 1,491,013 Kelly Apr. 22, 1924 1,720,350 AReid July 9, 1929 10 "1,761,427 Crary 1 1 "-June 3, 1930 Y FOREIGN PATENTS v"-Iumber Country Date l271,267 Great Britain May 26, 1927 

